It took Robert Gibbs two sentences to destroy the myth of Rick Perry’s Texas Miracle today. On Meet The Press Gibbs pointed out that the larger employer in Texas is Ft. Hood, which is paid for by the federal government.
Here is the video from NBC News:
Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
Transcript:
Guthrie: The president said this week he’d cut Rick Perry some slack. Will you? Was it appropriate for this candidate to suggest the president doesn’t love his country?
Gibbs: Two things come to mind. Rick Perry is the governor who two years ago openly talked about whether Texas should leave the union. I think for Rick Perry to have at one point talked about secession from the union as early as 2005. I think it’s good he’s professed his love for his country. I think the American people are tired of the politics where if you or I don’t agree on something, I question your love of country and patriotism. That’s not going to put this country back to work. It’s not going to make this country stronger. It’s quite frankly not what our country was founded on. We ought to be able to have honest political debates in this country about political divisions and ways we see the country moving without questioning people’s patriotism and love for country.
(Clip of Bachmann claiming that the White House fears her most)
Guthrie: Robert is this the candidate the white house most fears?
Gibbs: Look, I think that Republicans are going to do battle in this. We saw it last week in Iowa where — where Michele Bachmann scored an important win in the Iowa straw poll, but I think the American people are going to get a chance quite frankly to kick the tires a little bit and look under the hood. I think when it comes to somebody like Governor Rick Perry they’re going to wonder why — why a place like Texas has one of the worst education systems. They’re going to wonder why a guy who doesn’t like the government, the largest employer in Texas is Ft. Hood and the army base. $25 billion from Economic Recovery Act went to Texas and helped Rick Perry balance his budget. They’re going to wonder why, quite frankly, they’re 47th in wages just like they’re going to wonder why Mitt Romney, when he was governor of Massachusetts, was 47th in job creation.
Gibbs shredded the myth of Rick Perry’s Texas Miracle in two sentences. Rick Perry’s miracle would have never been possible without federal money. Perry is going to have a hard time in an election justifying his miracle when the largest employer in the state is the federal government, and he used federal money to balance the state’s budget. The mention of secession was a revival of the same strategy that LBJ used against Barry Goldwater in 1964. LBJ’s strategy was to contest the election on the basis of the two candidates’ personalities.
His campaign painted Goldwater as an impulsive extremist:
The “Daisy” strategy will likely be very effective for Obama against Perry or Bachmann, If 2012 follows the recent presidential election trend and becomes a personality contest, Obama and his high personal approval ratings will have a decided advantage.
Rick Perry’s Texas Miracle is going to continue to be debunked by the Obama campaign. The question is simple. If Rick Perry hates big government, why was his “miracle” so dependent on federal dollars? If big government is the problem, why did he use it as a solution?
The one thing that the Republicans still don’t get is just how good Obama’s campaign team is. They are the best around for a reason. It took Gibbs exactly two sentences to destroy Rick Perry’s Texas Miracle. The 2012 GOP field is like shooting fish in a barrel for Gibbs, Axelrod, Plouffe, and company.
The hypocrisies of the GOP field are big enough to drive a truck through, and that truck is going to going to have an Obama sticker on its bumper.
PoliticusUSA
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Un-Fact Checker (GOP Shill)
Aug. 21st, 2011 at 1:53 pm
Texas is a donor state, sending more money to Washington than it gets back. Texas received the second lowest stimulus per person. Texas rejected more strings-attached stimulus dollars than any state in America. Texas added nearly 4 times more net new private sector jobs than all other job-adding states combined from June 2006-2011.
Gibbs didn’t shatter anything.
Obama has been a complete and utter failure. Texas has been the lone shining star in this economy, along with a few other small states like Wyoming and the Dakotas that barely register on the national statistical scale.
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Shiva (Moderator)
Aug. 21st, 2011 at 1:58 pm
So in your words, Obama successful = bad. Texas last or close to it in almost every category = good
Texas added more jobs that were under minimum wage and at minimum wage than anyone.
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Jason Easley
Aug. 21st, 2011 at 2:04 pm
Nice way to change the subject. If Texas was in such great shape why did Perry go begging for stimulus dollars? If Texas is in such fantastic shape why are they facing a $25 billion deficit over the next two years, even though they have one of the smallest social safety nets in the country? If big government is the problem why did Perry need it so badly?
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Jason Easley
Aug. 21st, 2011 at 2:08 pm
PS- A decade of writing on the Internet has taught me that anyone who uses the word “fact” in the username is probably set to post anything but facts. (Readers be warned. This guy is spamming you with right wing talking points that don’t address the original question).
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Cathy
Aug. 21st, 2011 at 2:17 pm
Insulted that you choose to put Wyoming in the same context as Texas. Look at the rankings–economy, jobs, education, health care, etc–Texas continually ranks in the bottom fifth of all 50 states–Wyoming is in the top fifth, even number one as economically well managed states. Wyoming is not perfect (we are historically a red state) but I’d rather live in Wyoming than Texas any day!
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Anna McCall-Tanzola
Aug. 21st, 2011 at 2:47 pm
Please don’t insult those of us who live in Texas who actually know the facts! Before presenting yourself as someone who knows the ‘facts’, you need to first LEARN them!
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SamIAm
Aug. 21st, 2011 at 3:39 pm
As one of 28 Democrats in my zip code,I do not wonder where you get your facts. Facts remain the only things being manufactured as a result of Republican rule. We are always dead last or near last when it comes to measuring support of human beings, as opposed to right wing propaganda points. Last in % of the population with health insurance. Last in the quality of public education. Last in the number of citizens who can afford to attend university, last last last. The state budget was balanced, but not before every conceivable benefit to non millionaires was cut or totally erased. Sleep well Mr. UNFACTCHECKER. The country you are killing is your own.
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sammi's mom
Aug. 21st, 2011 at 5:01 pm
Facts remain the only things being manufactured as a result of Republican rule.
That is the best statement I have read or seen in ages!!! It hits the proverbial nail on the head!
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Cathy
Aug. 21st, 2011 at 5:51 pm
I agree!
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Songstar
Aug. 21st, 2011 at 11:12 pm
I 3rd ya!
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Gary D
Aug. 21st, 2011 at 4:17 pm
From 2007 to 2010 Texas lost private sector jobs but gained 125,000 government jobs. I see why they call you a GOP Shill. What would you call a Democratic governor who had that record? Another way of looking at this is that 400,000 people moved to Texas but only 100,000 total jobs were added.
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BONGOBOB
Aug. 22nd, 2011 at 5:08 pm
… Just curious… If Texas sucks soooo bad, why are so many people moving there then? …. just curious.
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Shiva (Moderator)
Aug. 22nd, 2011 at 5:36 pm
so basically all you have is innuendo, when you are given facts.
Can you tell us why Texas is last in almost everything?
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BONGOBOB
Aug. 22nd, 2011 at 5:50 pm
… excuse me “Shiva”… I was asking a question. That would be a series of words followed by one of these… ???????? …. Let me use YOUR words …. If Texas is last in almost everything, why are 400,000 people moving there each year?
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Shiva (Moderator)
Aug. 22nd, 2011 at 7:15 pm
Probably because they dont know its so bad or haven’t looked into it. BTW, Texas was not in the fastest growing top 11 states last year. Are there any facts on the poor performance of texas you would like to refute? I will list a couple of them for you:
(1st means highest ranking, 50th means lowest ranking among all 50 states)
Overall Birth Rate – 2nd
Teenage Birth Rate – 7th
Births to Unmarried Mothers – 17th
“….see?”
Percent of Women with Pre-Term Birth – 9th
Cervical Cancer Rate – 11th
Percent of Women with High Blood Pressure – 16th
Number of Executions – 1at
Millions redirected from low-income electricity program
Mandatory vaccinations benefit family members and cronies
Diverted hundreds of millions from education to campaign donors
Diverted $16 million from the Texas Emerging Technology Fund to campaign donors
$14 billion in federal stimulus money diverted to cronies
“…and punishes the unworthy”
Percent of Women Living in Poverty – 6th
Percent of Children Living in Poverty – 4th
Average Monthly Women, Infant, and Children (WIC) Benefits per Person – 47th
Hundreds of teachers laid off this summer due to inadequate education funds
Total Health Expenditures as % of the Gross State Product – 43rd
Health Care Expenditures per Capita – 44th
Percent of Low Income Population Covered by Medicaid – 49th
Per Capita State Spending on Medicaid – 49th
Per Capita State Spending on Mental Health – 50th
Workers’ Compensation Coverage – 50th
Rejected $555 million in federal unemployment insurance funding
Wants to opt out of Social Security and Medicare, though these are not entitlements but insurance programs Texans have paid for
Percent of Uninsured Children – 1st
Percent of Population Uninsured – 1st
Percent of Non-Elderly Uninsured – 1st
Percent of Population with Employer-Based Health Insurance – 48th
Percent of Non-Elderly Women with Health Insurance – 50th
“The free market will provide needed resources”
Physicians per Capita – 42nd
Registered Nurses per Capita – 44th
Percent of Population Who Visit the Dentist – 46th
Rate of Women Aged 40+ Who Receive Mammograms – 40th
Percent of Pregnant Women Receiving Prenatal Care in First Trimester – 50th
High School Graduation Rate – 43rd
% of Population 25 and Older with High School Diploma – 50th
State Aid Per Pupil in Average Daily Attendance – 47th
Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT) Scores – 45th
Per Capita State Spending on State Arts Agencies – 43rd
State budget shortfall: $27 billion
Income Inequality Between the Rich and the Poor – 9th
Income Inequality Between the Rich and the Middle Class – 5th
Income tax (16th) amendment is bad
“Only more consumer spending can save the economy”
Median Net Worth of Households – 47th
Average Credit Score – 49th
Mortgage Debt as Percent of Home Value – 47th
Homeowner’s Insurance Affordability – 46th
Foreclosure Rates – 10th
Retirement Plan Participation – 47th
Consumption of Energy per Capita – 5th
Amount of Carbon Dioxide Emissions – 1st
Amount of Volatile Organic Compounds Released into Air – 1st
Amount of Toxic Chemicals Released into Water – 1st
Amount of Recognized Cancer-Causing Carcinogens Released into Air – 1st
Amount of Hazardous Waste Generated – 1st
Amount of Toxic Chemicals Released into Air – 5th
Amount of Recognized Cancer-Causing Carcinogens Released into Water – 7th
Number of Hazardous Waste Sites on National Priority List – 7th
Women’s Voter Registration – 45th
Women’s Voter Turnout – 49th
Senators should be elected by state houses (favors repeal of 17th amendment)
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Maggie
Aug. 21st, 2011 at 4:28 pm
Governor Good Hair blows hotter air than this summers Texas heat wave, Perry is the epitome of “all hat and no cattle”
Perry took ~~~$ 6 BILLION~~ in stimulus~~~6 BILLION!!!
Perry used it to balance his budget instead of creating jobs.
Texas “miracle” my A$$ :
Prayer Rally Dwarfed By Texans Who Flock To Nearby Convention Center, Desperate For Free School Supplies the event ;
— which attracted an estimated 100,0000 people to a convention center just seven miles down the road from Gov. Rick Perry (R) and The Response prayer rally — had nothing to do with religion and everything to do with Texas families struggling through hard economic times:
In 2009, more than one-fifth of Houston-area residents lived below the poverty level, 3 percentage points higher than the state average.
Given the scope of the need, the HISD event provided more than just school supplies; the City of Houston donated 20,000 boxed lunches, and the local Food Bank gave 25,000 three-pound bags of food.
http://thinkprogress.org/politics/2011/08/08/290973/prayer-rally-school-supplies/
All the states that surround Texas; New Mexico, Arkansas Louisiana, and Oklahoma, all have LOWER unemployment than Texas.
Texas is BEHIND 25 other states so why is Texas doing so poorly when it is surrounded by “job creators”?
Those FACTS do not bear out anything close to Perry’s claimed “miracle”, now he is lecturing Bernanke and accusing him of treason?
Treason is the only crime mentioned in the Constitution and is punishable by death.
Texas 8.4 0.2%
Arkansas 8.2 0.1%
Delaware 8.1 0.1%
New York 8.0 0.2%
Louisiana 7.6 0.2%
Maine 7.7 0.1%
Massachusetts 7.6 0.0%
Pennsylvania 7.8 0.2%
Wisconsin 7.6 0.2%
Alaska 7.7 0.2%
Montana 7.7 0.2%
Utah 7.5 0.1%
Maryland 7.2 0.2%
New Mexico 6.7 0.1%
Minnesota 7.2 0.4%
Kansas 6.5 0.1%
Hawaii 6.1 0.1%
Iowa 6.0 0.0%
Virginia 6.1 0.1%
Wyoming 5.8 0.1%
Vermont 5.7 0.2%
Oklahoma 5.5 0.1%
New Hampshire 5.2 0.3%
South Dakota 4.7 0.0%
Nebraska 4.1 0.1%
North Dakota 3.3 0.1%
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_U.S._states_by_unemployment_rate
Perry named one of worst governors by national ethics watchdog group:
“Newsweek’s cover boy, Rick Perry, just got some more national publicity. And it’s probably the kind of attention the Texas governor would rather avoid.
Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, the nonpartisan watchdog group that has hounded politicians from both parties, this morning chose Perry as one of “the nation’s most incompetent and unethical governors.”
Perry’s office dismissed the report and a spokesman said that the GOP governor has “one of the strictest ethics policies in the nation.”
The “winning” list of 11 governors — including nine Republicans and two Democrats — is composed of elected officials “who have pushed their states’ best interests aside in favor of their supporters, families, political parties and bank accounts,” CREW said in its announcement.
CREW singled out six Perry controversies. Among them, the group said that the governor “allegedly disregarded campaign finance laws and aided a business that was especially generous to his campaign” and “accepted travel and campaign donations from a business that received benefits from his official actions.”
http://t.co/ANyyX27
The group also accused Perry of rejected federal economic stimulus money “in a manner that appeared to put partisan politics ahead of the interests of the citizens of Texas” and “has perpetuated the revolving door between government and special interests.”
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sue
Aug. 21st, 2011 at 6:00 pm
Where is Florida in this list? Did we drop out of the country?
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ClintfromTexas
Sep. 4th, 2011 at 2:32 am
Maggie, let’s see what is your state, why don’t you brag on another states employment numbers instead of just nit-picking on the Texas numbers. It is amazing how even the NY and LA Times last year featured articles on how great the Texas economy was in comparison to the rest of the country and now that Perry has jumped in every liberal claims all of those reports are skewed or false. And you just don’t get it, government spending in all of these areas such as welfare, medicaid, education is the lowest per capita and that is a good thing!
That is the whole point of the Tea Party and conservatism, government spending is way too high!!! The highest spending for public education per student is almost always a direct correlation with the poorest performance. My daughter graduated public high school last year in the Austin area along with 99.8% of the other 300 kids she started high school with and 92% of them had already been accepted to college, the average expenditure per student was just over $9000, compare that to a Washington DC graduation rate under 70% with an expenditure of over $16,000 per student. The point is money and government is not the solution, it just creates a dependent class with a continuous decline of the lowest common denominator which the democratic party is always pandering to. And just imagine what the Texas numbers would look like in comparison to other states if those states had kept all the people that left them to come to Texas, no doubt our employment rate would be even lower!
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David Franks
Aug. 21st, 2011 at 5:51 pm
Un-Fact Checker–
It is true that Texas received $0.94 in revenue per dollar paid in federal taxes (individual, 2005), but Texas has no state income tax, instead raising money by taxes on petroleum– which are ultimately paid in large part by people in other states. Texas has 18% of operable refineries in the U.S., with 27% of the nation’s crude oil capacity, 36% of gasoline output and 29% of diesel output capacities. Even if actual outputs are way out of whack (and all Texas refineries were operating as of 1 January 2011), Texans aren’t using all of the gasoline and diesel fuel produced there. I believe the quid pro quo here tips in favor of Texas– particularly when you consider all of those out-of-staters who have to drive across the thing.
See also http://tinyurl.com/3h8llgn which mentions Texas’ relatively high rate of population growth as a driver for job growth, as well as the effect of the state’s petroleum economy on a delayed recession in Texas.
And keep on checking those un-facts.
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Fiona Mackenzie
Aug. 21st, 2011 at 6:25 pm
Texas rejected stimulus funding with much fanfare, while seizing it behind its back. Texas also has record numbers of people, including infants, without health care or necessities of life. New private sector jobs (which, by the way, are funded by money paid to government employees in the state) are predominantly minimum wage.
Characterizing Texas as a donor state is a fantasy. It is actually break-even, about in the middle of the states. And that’s with enormous government funding.
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John D. Cox
Aug. 22nd, 2011 at 8:00 am
Where does Texas rank in the category: numbers of “evilgelical fundamentalisticals?” It’s got to be towards or at the top. And these kinds of “xns” believe that helping infants, little children, and adults is “socialism.” And, if they help people-socialism, then it would mean that they were “ungodly.” Can’t have that!
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Fiona Mackenzie
Aug. 21st, 2011 at 6:29 pm
Note also that non-government jobs moving into Texas were largely drained from surrounding states, diminishing their economic well being. As President of the United States, that would not be an option.
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ComeOnAmerica
Aug. 21st, 2011 at 7:58 pm
How cute that you are using right wing noise machine talking points like ‘utter failure.’
Will you righties at least TRY to sound like you know what you’re talking about? Ever try looking things up or Googling something? You know—-LEARNING THE FACTS!!
The most recent listing of “donor states” is:
10 Biggest Donators
1. New Jersey $0.61
2. Nevada $0.65
3. Connecticut $0.69
4. New Hampshire $0.71
5. Minnesota $0.72
6. Illinois $0.75
7. Delaware $0.77
8. California $0.78
9. New York $0.79
10. Colorado $0.81
WHERE IS TEXAS????????????????
Now, the 10 Biggest Receivers:
1. New Mexico $2.03
2. Mississippi $2.02
3. Alaska $1.84
4. Louisiana $1.78
5. West Virginia $1.76
6. North Dakota $1.68
7. Alabama $1.66
8. South Dakota $1.53
9. Kentucky $1.51
10. Virginia $1.51
Hmmmmm. Mostly red states. Freeloaders, welfare queens, lazy people, anyone?
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Shiva (Moderator)
Aug. 21st, 2011 at 8:35 pm
Maybe the receivers aught to leave the union?
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Jolly Roger
Aug. 22nd, 2011 at 6:53 am
Oh please, PLEASE secede. We can build a new Berlin Wall to keep you right where you say things are so grand, once the welfare money runs out.
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Donal
Aug. 22nd, 2011 at 11:09 am
Maybe they could sign up with Mexico (Hell, Texans are almost Mexican anyway) and start pillaging the Mexican tax system.
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motorfingaz
Aug. 21st, 2011 at 11:11 pm
Complete and utter blah blah blah…………….same ole right wing talking pts..
Americans are fully aware that its the republican crime syndicates/party of no, that is the problem of America.
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nk007
Aug. 22nd, 2011 at 3:08 am
1. “Texas is a donor state, sending more money to Washington than it gets back.” If that’s true why not cite the evidence/sources to support your claim? Are we supposed to take your assertion on faith? And, by the way, does Texas send “more money to Washington than it gets back” more so than California, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Massachusetts?
2. “Texas received the second lowest stimulus per person.” Again the same question, why not cite the evidence and source(s) to support your claim? Besides, If Rick Perry is so anti-federal government why did he agree to take any money from the OBAMA stimulus?
3. “Texas added nearly 4 times more net new private sector jobs than all other job-adding states combined from june 2006-2011.” Again, the same question, why not cite the source(s) on which you based your claim? Besides, was President Obama President between 2006 and 2009?
4. Can Texas really thrive without all the federal dollars that goes into supporting the military?
5. Why not cite evidence to support your claim that PRESIDENT Obama “has been a complete and utter failure?’ Are we are expected to take your claim on faith?
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Betty
Aug. 22nd, 2011 at 10:05 am
Texas is the lowest state in the union in almost every catagory and it’s had a string of Rep. Gov. including Bush. Most people without health care, living in poverty, low paying jobs, high school drop-outs, etc. It’s a good thing he has the Gov. bases there and big oil. It’s obvious that Perry never saw a lobbyist with money he didn’t like. He used to be a Dem. until he decided there was more money to be had by being a Repub.
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Sean Russell
Aug. 22nd, 2011 at 10:28 am
Keep dreaming. You should move to Texas and find out what you’re talking about. Texas’ education system has been sabotaged by Perry and his GOP cronies. He’s built toll (tax) roads everywhere, all while claiming to be a tax cutter. And instead of real solutions- the only thing that Perry can think of is praying. He’s useless.
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RWNJ Crusher
Aug. 22nd, 2011 at 5:13 pm
GOP SHill is right. I love how you IDIOTS, and yes I called you an IDIOT, make up facts.
You are entitled to your opinion, but facts don’t support what you spew from your tiny
little mind. Why don’t you move to DisneyLand where your imagination can become reality?
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Robert
Aug. 21st, 2011 at 2:03 pm
Oil patch jobs + Petro/Chemical industry cancer coast jobs + Military base jobs + minimum wage and service sector jobs = “Texas Miracle”.
Easily replicated anywhere else in America, right?
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Jason Easley
Aug. 21st, 2011 at 2:09 pm
@ Robert
Just add water, stir, and you are good to go.
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PMom_GA
Aug. 22nd, 2011 at 8:35 pm
Psst – Jason?
Beer, not water! TX may be in a water drought, but the beer/booze sales ain’t so bad!
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Timothy
Aug. 21st, 2011 at 2:11 pm
I wonder how many of those jobs added was from K.B.R. sending people to Iraq, Afghanistan, and Africa?
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Anne
Aug. 21st, 2011 at 3:43 pm
The other day, on MSNBC, Al Sharpton referred to the “Texas Miracle” as the Texas Mirage. I would be willing to bet that Perry says the dumb things he does to deflect from the fact that his record as governor of Texas is lousy.
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Josh
Aug. 21st, 2011 at 4:09 pm
And none of you guys are mentioning population growth. If you read Paul Krugman’s blog you see a large part of their job growth can be attributed to massive demand owing to massive population growth.
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Dasein
Aug. 21st, 2011 at 4:11 pm
This so-called ‘miracle’ is anything but a miracle. It truly is but a mirage. The last thing America needs now is another big-talkin’ right-winger ego-maniac perpetuating his Texas-sized lies across the country.
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Fiona Mackenzie
Aug. 21st, 2011 at 6:30 pm
One would never have thought that a Texas clone could make the idiot boy look not-so-bad. Life is full of surprises.
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Betty
Aug. 22nd, 2011 at 10:07 am
Perry is just like Bush only Bush was smarter and more ethical. God save us.
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Barbara Schell
Aug. 25th, 2011 at 12:14 am
Amen!
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Shaw Kenawe
Aug. 21st, 2011 at 4:38 pm
From Politifact:
“Is Texas really getting more for less? To back up Maddow, MSNBC spokeswoman Lauren Skowronski pointed us to the most recent state-by-state analysis of federal tax burdens and spending by the Washington-based Tax Foundation, a business-backed tax policy group. It covers the 25-year period between 1981 and 2005.
According to the analysis, Texans paid about $147 billion in federal taxes in 2005 while the state received $149 billion in federal spending. That year, 33 other states also got, as Maddow put it, more money back than residents paid in.
In fiscal 2009, the IRS collected about $163 billion from Texans and the state received about $224 billion, for a net gain of $61 billion. Federal spending in Texas also exceeded tax payments in 2008 by $8 billion. It was the other way around in 2006 and 2007, when tax payments by Texans exceeded federal spending by a total of about $47 billion.
Summing up: The figures from our sources show two different trends. On an annual basis between 1981 and 2003, Texas almost always paid more in federal taxes than it got back from Uncle Sam. But since 2003 the reverse has been true, with Texas receiving more than it paid in five out of seven years, which is close to routine.
We rate Maddow’s statement as Mostly True.”
The Un-Fact Checker (GOP shill) got his “facts” wrong. Not a surprise.
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Maggie
Aug. 21st, 2011 at 5:05 pm
Perry has been GOv. for 11 years, so Perry’s is the ONLY administration. to benefit from all of those federal dollars.
Why then, are they so far behind their surrounding states and rank #25 for the highest unemployment in the country?
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nk007
Aug. 22nd, 2011 at 3:30 am
Thanks Shaw for posting facts. The Un-Fact Checker (GOP shill) expected us to accept his claims on faith. As long as you believe what Gov. Perry and The Un-Fact Checker (GOP shill) says there is no need to check the facts. After all, how dare any one question these good Christians who have been anointed by God to speak for the REAL Americans?
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D. L. MacKenzie
Aug. 21st, 2011 at 4:53 pm
Rick Perry is a first class bullshit artist, and his “Texas Miracle” is completely fictitious. http://www.thefiscaltimes.com/Articles/2011/08/12/Rick-Perry-and-the-Myth-of-the-Texas-Miracle.aspx#page1
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Rusty
Aug. 21st, 2011 at 5:15 pm
Like most “miracles”, this one is easily debunked if you have the ability to think for yourself. Sadly, this is something that conservatives are unable to do.
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Jim Palmer
Aug. 21st, 2011 at 5:19 pm
Oh, great. Another slack-jawed good ol’ boy like un-elected George W. Bush, the worst president in modern history. Who in their right mind would want Bush v. 2.0? Most Republicans would at least prefer Romeny to Perry and Bachmann.
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David Franks
Aug. 21st, 2011 at 5:58 pm
Un-Fact Checker–
It is true that Texas received $0.94 in revenue per dollar paid in federal taxes (individual, 2005, per the Tax Foundation), but Texas has no state income tax, instead raising money by, among other things, taxes on petroleum– which are ultimately paid in large part by people in other states. Texas has 18% of operable refineries in the U.S., with 27% of the nation’s crude oil capacity, 36% of gasoline output and 29% of diesel output capacities. Even if actual outputs are way out of whack (and all Texas refineries were operating as of 1 January 2011), Texans aren’t using all of the gasoline and diesel fuel produced there. I believe the quid pro quo here tips in favor of Texas– particularly when you consider all of those out-of-staters who have to drive across the thing.
See also http://tinyurl.com/3h8llgn which mentions Texas’ relatively high rate of population growth as a driver for job growth, as well as the effect of the state’s petroleum economy on a delayed recession in Texas.
And keep on checking those “un-facts”.
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History Chaser
Aug. 22nd, 2011 at 1:51 am
If you don’t want to drive across “the thing” go around.
I hope everyone gets the message. Texas is a third world country where the temperature is 109 every day until Dec. when it drops to ten below. We are poor, we are ignorant. Do not come here.
Of course none of the above is true but don’t let that dissuade you from staying away.
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David Franks
Aug. 22nd, 2011 at 2:41 am
History Chaser–
RE “If you don’t want to drive across ‘the thing’ go around.”
If I drive around Texas, it uses more gas and puts more money in your (soon-to-be) third-world coffers. I’ll go as directly through as possible, but thanks for the tip.
RE “I hope everyone gets the message.”
Oddly enough, however, it has eluded you.
RE “Texas is a third world country”
Striving to be one, anyway.
RE “where the temperature is 109 every day until Dec. when it drops to ten below”
That would be Kansas.
RE “We are poor”
Don’t feel too bad– Mississippi and the District of Columbia are consistently higher in poverty, and Arizona, Georgia and New Mexico surpass you from time to time. See
http://www.census.gov/hhes/www/poverty/data/incpovhlth/2009/state.xls
RE “we are ignorant”
Oh, don’t overstate the case– only most of your voters are ignorant.
Perhaps you should stop chasing history and learn something from it instead.
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Pat Mason
Aug. 21st, 2011 at 6:25 pm
First of all, Gibson plays his own ‘Party Politics’ as suggesting ‘Secession’ equals ‘Hating America,’ which is patently NOT true. You ‘Secede’ because you disgaree with the GOVERNMENT, not the People or the Nation. However, Perry is a fraud to ‘Secessionists’ because he doesn’t really buy into it. Perry is a master BS’er. He – like his 6 other Neocon, so called ‘Top Tier’ contenders – only wants POWER. He “loves America” only for what he can get out of her, just like OBAMA. Ron Paul is the ONLY candidate who truly LOVES this nation and his RECORD proves this.
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Shiva (Moderator)
Aug. 21st, 2011 at 6:34 pm
Really?
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Pat Mason
Aug. 21st, 2011 at 7:55 pm
Yeah…,REALLY.
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Shiva (Moderator)
Aug. 21st, 2011 at 8:35 pm
Bullcrap
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Josh
Aug. 21st, 2011 at 7:36 pm
For future reference, it’s possible to emphasis points in your paragraph through sentence structure. The moment you start capitalizing words (and seemingly doing it at random, why the hell is Obama capitalized?) most of us will tune out and go find a comment which doesn’t read like the ravings of a madman.
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Pat Mason
Aug. 21st, 2011 at 7:57 pm
Typical Partisan Liberal comment. Name-calling instead of factual rebuttle. You can’t possibly defend OBAMA in any meaningful way. He has betrayed you ‘Liberals’ by basically being George Bush in a different suit. How come very few of you realize that? ‘Partisan Politics’ explains it.
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Shiva (Moderator)
Aug. 21st, 2011 at 8:37 pm
I guess Rick perry is factual then? He is proven to be a liar and he is “ conservative ”
Your points have nothing of fact to them, they are only opinion.
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Sarah Jones
Aug. 21st, 2011 at 9:48 pm
Obama is George W Bush is the most desperate, pathetic excuse for a talking point you folks have drummed up since you put purple bandaids on.
If you really believe that, then you don’t know anything about what’s going on in this country and you are brain-washed.
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Sarah Jones
Aug. 21st, 2011 at 9:47 pm
So, secession (like divorce) is a way of saying “I love you”? That would go over really well with the founders. Secession is breaking the union. No other way to put it.
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David Franks
Aug. 22nd, 2011 at 1:16 am
But wait a minute–
RE “You ‘Secede’ because you disgaree with the GOVERNMENT, not the People or the Nation.”
The government IS, however ostensibly, the people, who are the nation.
RE Ron Paul’s record: Critique and links to legislation at http://tinyurl.com/34jwe5
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nk007
Aug. 22nd, 2011 at 4:03 am
Amazing! According to you, Pat Mason, secession means hating the American government but loving the “the people of the Nation? I am just so sick and tired of people who expect me to believe their assertions simply on the basis of faith. As to you second claim about Ron Paul, why did you not cite concrete evidence to prove that “Ron Paul is the ONLY candidate who truly LOVES this nation and his RECORD proves this.” PLEASE cite specific examples of Ron Paul’s “RECORD” for the many of us who are not familiar with it. To be honest with you, I am offended by you implied assertion that any one who does not buy into Ron Paul’s agenda hates America. That is such a dangerous assertion in democratic society that has, from its founding, embraced ideological diversity.
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Randy Lerch
Aug. 22nd, 2011 at 9:26 pm
Hey Pat,
You say “You ‘Secede’ because you disgaree(I’m assuming you meant disagree) with the GOVERNMENT, not the People or the Nation.” But
don’t the “People” of this “Nation” elect the “GOVERNMENT” with a
majority vote? That would mean you “patently” ARE disagreeing with
the “People”. Oh, and I’d love to hear how Obama “loves America” only
for what he can get out of her”(sarcastic request)…
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Rudy Gonzales
Aug. 21st, 2011 at 7:28 pm
We live in Texas and we know Perry. We have known forever his ability to lie his way into office. Anyone thinking Perry is gathering pace is touched in the head. Perry has barely entered the national race and has already inserted foot. Perry’s skeptical and passionate positions on the economy and national issues prove his 2.22 GPA from Texas A&M have not properly prepared him for the governorship, much less the presidency! We need to understand TEA party crying about federal spending has been skewed by recession dynamics as federal spending always goes up while tax revenues decrease. Then the economy shrinks and contracts reducing GDP, which is the broadest measure of the economy. GDP is at a post WWII high but taxes have fallen to 14.4 % of GDP. Tax revenues drop sharply as people and companies make less money and therefore pay less taxes. Safety-net programs like food-stamps and unemployment benefits kick in before any stimulus programs are considered or pass by Congress. Then negative economic growth slows reducing further GDP numbers further boosting the ratio to GDP spending. Federal spending is up but only by one or two percent to 21 percent. Tax revenues have averaged just over 19 percent today. Higher percentages of GDP have occurred in the past under president Reagan in 1983 and 1984. When politicians speak, question every aspect of every word and query the slightest nuance of their verb-age for truthfulness and accuracy! The simplistic yelling and screaming by the TEA shows they are not as smart as they think they are!
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Pat Mason
Aug. 21st, 2011 at 8:00 pm
First of all, which ‘Tea Party’ are you referring to? The REAL ‘Tea Party’ spawned by the Ron Paul Revolution, or the co-opted, corrupted version hijacked by Bill Kristol and his Neocons? True ‘Paulian’ Tea Partiers understand the economy better than anyone. GOP ‘Tea Partiers’ are simply clueless ‘GOP’ers’ in ‘Tea Party’ drag and don’t know squat. Your comments about Perry are DEAD-ON, btw.
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A Walkaway
Aug. 21st, 2011 at 10:16 pm
Ron Paul is a dominionist. He is a Christian Reconstructionist, which is one of the “branches” of dominionism. He is not about freedom at all, and his economics fits in with their theocratic goals.
http://www.talk2action.org/story/2011/3/15/142615/800
So he was never a real libertarian, or at most he was a Theocratic “libertarian”.
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Sara
Aug. 21st, 2011 at 9:24 pm
All of what you say is true. We Texans know and despise Perry. But…he still keeps getting elected. Why? Follow the money. I don’t think he should be underestimated in this election either. We need to be prepared to shout LIAR and FRAUD whenever his trash talking ads start appearing – and they will. We need to debunk them loudly in every forum possible.
He’s got big money behind him that will buy incredible advertising time, and he has absolutely no qualms about making baldfaced lies about anyone he’s running against. We need to be truly on guard from now on, if we’re to prevent him buying the presidency.
God help America if that happens.
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laingirl
Aug. 22nd, 2011 at 2:31 pm
So true. The big money boys support Perry because they know he is dumb and they can have their way with him.
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Jim
Aug. 21st, 2011 at 9:57 pm
This is a great post, but it looks weird and loses a little credibility on a quick glance because you say “larger” instead of “largest” employer. It looks like you’re hedging on the actual quote, as if it might not be true. It should say largest. Can you correct it?
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Frank
Aug. 21st, 2011 at 10:12 pm
Nice — on both the Federally-funded employment in Texas, and on the irony of a secessionist state governor calling Obama unpatriotic. Two sentences that respond to the silliness of Rick Perry’s claims — of course, it would have been nicer if they had been syntactically coherent and complete sentences, but I guess no-one, not even communications professionals, speak in those anymore.
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Songstar
Aug. 21st, 2011 at 11:16 pm
I love watching the repuke,tparty,tpartyjrmiss all battling for 2012 which will not happen…spend your money campaining, but don’t forget to buy your ballons,posters and banners MADE IN the USA.
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sheila
Aug. 22nd, 2011 at 12:14 am
You can tell education is bad in Texas when you check out our governor.
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Vera
Aug. 22nd, 2011 at 1:09 am
He thinks Social Security is unconstitutional, he doesn’t believe in evolution. He thinks Bush/Chaney nominee Ben Bernanke’s Federal Reserve policies are treasonous. Yep! That’s what this nation needs another cocksure Texas cowboy?
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Monica Roberts
Aug. 22nd, 2011 at 2:05 am
Oh yeah people, there was a Texas governor who had a $2.5 billion budget surplus, invested in education and infrastructure, got businesses to create good jobs and get them to move to the state, and had the most multicultural administration in Texas history.
Her name was Ann Richards, and she was a proud Democrat
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Moongal6
Aug. 22nd, 2011 at 2:41 am
Monica, I humbly Thank you for the memories. I too, miss Ann, Molly, Barbara Jordan comes to mind as well as well a many others. They did Texas proud.
Damn that Karl Rove, damn him….
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Phantom
Aug. 22nd, 2011 at 2:11 am
The economic miracle of Texas is illegal immigrants working dirt cheap. If they demand more money, the whole country is economicaly eff-ed.
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Samuel
Aug. 22nd, 2011 at 6:18 am
So awesome. Perry is such a pawn. Texas is so great! Well, because the government bails them out. Perry sure had no problem asking for money.
http://bit.ly/naPgyw
Oh and do not forget about how bad the stocks will be Monday and how the recession will start ROARING back.
Sadly, I just had a friend move to Texas. He is not loving it so much. Shocking.
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cgcbondst
Aug. 22nd, 2011 at 11:34 am
Perry went to college at tax payer expense (ROTC). He then served in the military for 5 years as a payback for his free education at taxpayer expense. While in the military, he earned a paycheck from the taxpayer. He then went into government, and for 27 years, has earned a taxpayer paycheck. The guy IS government. He hates govt? He must hate himself.
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Debbie
Aug. 22nd, 2011 at 3:12 pm
Gov Perry is not a good gov and has never been. All anyone has to do is look at the stats for the last 10 years. I hope America will take a look at Texas and see this is where America will be if he became the next president, last on almost everything. Texas has went down and keeps going down, he is also rated 48th as gov. about the same numbers as Texas. We are still asking where the jobs are in Texas? Texas work to right state, so low pay, hard to get unemployment. Like they say All Hat No Cattle.
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